Seeing sothing seed amiss in the atmosphere, Hestia couldn't help but stand up to ask what was going on.
"What happened?"
Realizing her reaction was a bit excessive, Artemis cleared her throat slightly and asked the two casually.
"You, want to eat rabbit?"
"Yes, rabbit at is both nourishing and firm, and tastes quite good."
Luo En, the chef, nodded subconsciously and began to explain.
"I wasn't sure what to make, but then I saw a rabbit had gotten into the vegetable garden and was nibbling on the sprouts, so I thought why not catch it and make so rabbit dishes for you all to try.
But considering the number of people dining tonight, it seed like there wouldn't be enough, so I went to the market outside and bought a cage, ready to deal with it..."
No sooner had he finished than Hestia, realizing what happened belatedly, threw herself at the chewed-up sprouts in the field, wailing in anguish.
"Damn it, my vegetable garden, who? Who let the rabbit in?"
Suddenly, the Goddess of the Hunt stood up sowhat awkwardly.
"Cough, auntie, it was . I caught one while hunting on the way, but accidentally let it escape when I entered. I was too caught up in chatting and forgot about it..."
"Right, it must be the one that ran into the backyard."
Athena chid in from the side, seeming to clarify but also confirming Artemis's blunder.
The Goddess of the Hunt rolled her eyes at the Goddess of Wisdom, who was outwardly helping but secretly kicking her when down, and hesitantly spoke up.
"Auntie, I really like that little guy, how about we let it go? I'll compensate you for the loss."
"So that's how it is, never mind then..."
Seeing her niece owning up to the mistake, Hestia couldn't be bothered to pursue it further and waved at the royal chef, ready to take drastic asures in the backyard.
"Luo En, where's that little rascal? Give it back to her."
"Uh, I forgot to close the door earlier, and when I opened the cage I wasn't paying attention, so they all accidentally ran out. I can't tell which one it was, maybe Goddess Artemis herself should co and see?"
Luo En pointed to the half-open cage on the ground, and to the several snowy white culprits fleeing around, looking troubled.
Artemis, realizing the gravity of the situation, now just wanted to end the farce as quickly as possible.
However, looking around, she couldn't help but shake her head in disappointnt.
"Strange, none of them seem to be the one..."
"Maybe a few escaped in the confusion..."
Luo En, rather helplessly, looked at the Goddess of the Hunt, biting back his words.
Clearly, the recent capture attempt was interrupted by Artemis, who happened to hear the commotion, providing the perfect opportunity for these little creatures.
Luckily, Artemis turned out to be reasonable, rely shaking her head in regret, not making it difficult for the innocent chef caught up in the matter.
"That's okay then, let's forget it."
Luo En, also sympathizing with the mood of the Goddess of the Hunt, took the initiative to speak, granting amnesty to all the fugitive culprits.
"Rabbit takes a bit of ti to cook, how about we switch to another dish?"
"That would be good..."
Hearing such considerate words from the chef, Artemis could not help but nod in agreent, and even the way she looked at him thereafter seed to carry traces of good will.
As the ripples of this minor episode died down, Luo En imdiately took the rabbits that had narrowly escaped doom outside to set them free, subsequently purchasing so beef and mutton from the market, called out, and went back to the kitchen to prepare anew.
"You ladies take a seat; the food will be ready in a mont."
The three Goddesses had no suspicions, continuing their return to the living room to chat about dostic matters while waiting for the feast to begin.
As laughter and joyous voices of the Goddesses once again filled the inner room, the head chef in the kitchen, while cutting the beef and mutton, couldn't help but marvel at his own cleverness.
The best way to hide a drop of water is to put it into the ocean.
Similarly, the best way to make a rabbit disappear as reasonably as possible is to get a bunch of rabbits for cover.
Now that so many rabbits had been released, directly or indirectly, even if Artemis were later to suspect sothing, she would hardly be able to trace it to him.
Moreover, with the damaged vegetable garden incident, it wouldn't be proper for Artemis to inquire too much about the whereabouts of the fugitive in front of Hestia, the victim.
After all, a re prey was nothing unusual for the Goddess of the Hunt.
This marks the end of the matter, which will most likely blow over.
Thus, not only had he resolved the crisis brought about by the rabbits, but he had also managed to curry favor with the Goddess of the Hunt.
Perfect!
After replaying the events and confirming there were no mistakes, Luo En nodded in satisfaction, picked up the exquisite dishes that were ready on the stove, and took out the wine he had brewed from the cellar, ready to properly entertain the three maiden Goddesses who had gathered.
"Co, drink up! Don't be shy!"
With the drinks served and the food plated, Hestia imdiately poured a Great Cup full of wine for herself and her two nieces, warmly extending an invitation.
The fragrance of fruitwood and petals filled their nostrils, stirring interest in the two Goddesses who picked up their cups, copied Hestia's gesture, and downed them in one gulp.
Instantly, a subtle tartness spread through their mouths, followed by a pleasant aftertaste, the rich aroma of fruit mixed with hints of flowers and vanilla, the taste complex and layered.
In a daze, they seed to be standing in a adow surrounded by flowers everywhere, clusters of ripe grapes and pogranates full on the branches, emitting a fragrant scent that refreshed the heart and soul.
Monts later, Athena and Artemis opened their eyes one after another and looked at the jug of wine on the table. As if by agreent, they licked their lips and refilled their cups.
Clearly, they had been conquered by this drink called "wine."
"I told you it's good, co on, drink, keep drinking!"
Seeing her nieces also taking a liking to the thing she recomnded, the proud Goddess of the Hearth kept praising the founder Luo En's ingenious idea while heating up the atmosphere at the table and frequently topping up their drinks.
Soon, after each had consud a jug of wine, the three goddesses were slightly tipsy, and a seductive blush appeared on their fair cheeks one after another; their gazes were hazy, and they felt sowhat lightheaded,
"Wine's here!"
Accompanied by a cheerful call, Luo En, who was in charge of entertaining the three goddesses, diligently removed the empty jugs and brought up the remaining four jugs of wine from the cellar to the table all at once.
However, Athena waved her hand and pushed the jug in front of her slightly away, regret flickering in her eyes.
"No more, although the flavor and the physical sensation are novel, if I keep drinking, I'll lose control of my body. I don't like that state of sensory disorientation."
Similarly, Artemis across from her also put down her cup and nodded in agreent.
"Indeed, drink too much, and the hands will tremble, which will affect the accuracy of archery. Let's stop for today."
Seeing the two virgin goddesses so restrained, Luo En, who had harbored a bit of mischief, couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
But after a little thought, he let it go.
As virgin goddesses, if Athena and Artemis didn't have so wariness and self-preservation, they likely wouldn't have had the chance to remain chaste.
"Ah? You're not drinking? Then good, I'll take it all~!"
While Luo En was ruefully reflecting, Hestia, hearing her nieces' refusal, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't wait to bring the remaining four jugs of wine in front of her. Then she broke the seals and indulged in another intense round of drinking, thoroughly enjoying that fantastical, intoxicating feeling.
"Bang!"
A quarter of an hour later, the Goddess of the Hearth, who had proactively guzzled five jugs of grape wine, was sprawled on the table, fast asleep, her face bearing a sweet, intoxicated smile.
At this mont, Luo En, who had been busy preparing and waiting to see the drunken behavior of the three goddesses, looked at the only one who had taken the bait and couldn't help but darken his face.
You again, for the second ti!
Not learned your lesson, have you? Seems I didn't hit you hard enough last ti!
However, the itch in his hand ultimately didn't fall upon Hestia's bottom.
Athena and Artemis, the two reliable nieces, one on each side, supported their aunt and helped her upstairs.
Watching the three virgin goddesses walking side by side, Luo En could only honestly clean up the dishes and cutlery and set aside the thought of giving Hestia a "make-up lesson" for the ti being.
They slept undisturbed through the night, with nothing amiss.
With the arrival of morning, Luo En also sat up from bed, ready to go downstairs and prepare breakfast.
"Woof!"
But before he could even open the door, the Golden Hound in the hallway bolted into his arms with a low whine, its dog face full of anthropomorphic terror, as if fleeing from so ferocious beast or flood.
Outside the door, the Goddess of the Hunt with golden hair and silver eyes discreetly withdrew her hand, maintaining her composure with a smile, acting as if nothing had happened.
"So early?"
"Yes, I woke up just in ti to make so breakfast to welco our guests."
Luo En, while stroking the trembling head of the Golden Hound, revealed a reserved smile.
Artemis glanced at the door behind her and smilingly suggested,
"Auntie might sleep until noon. Why don't you co for a walk with first?"
Imdiately after, the goddess's gaze shifted downward to the Golden Hound in Luo En's arms, her eyes sparking with fervor.
"Since you have a good dog, why don't we go to the nearby mountains and see who is better at hunting?"
"What's there to compare with him? Why don't you try with ?"
Before Luo En could speak, Athena walked out from another bedroom, casting a cold smile at the clearly ulterior-motivated Goddess of the Hunt.
Seeing her well-planned activity being interrupted, Artemis frowned slightly in displeasure.
But then, as if she had thought of sothing, a smile reappeared on her face.
"Great, it's rare to have a chance to hunt together. Let's see who catches more prey today, and by the way, let's have him be our referee and guide."
"No problem!"
Athena nodded in agreent and, following Artemis's gaze, cast a aningful glance at soone behind her.
And the Goddess of the Hunt opposite her, also shared a warm look, not only showing full friendliness and admiration but even taking the initiative to grab the man's arm, displaying her full enthusiasm.
"Co ride with in my chariot, it's faster that way."
Athena, a beat behind, narrowed her eyes slightly, her tightly closed lips letting out a faint grinding noise.
And so, Luo En, who was put on the spot to beco the goddesses' arbiter, thought of a future colleague nad "Paris" and an even more famous Golden Apple, and couldn't help but feel his scalp go numb.
This sort of thing, isn't likely to be a good task, is it?
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